Memories
In 1981 I remember I was in 7th grade and my science teacher brought in a TV and we watched the Space Shuttle Columbia blast off in space and I felt a chill down my spine. I knew that moment was special and it's been a memory that's stayed with me. I was proud to see America's space journey continue.
In 1986, I was a senior at Manchester Central high school in Manchester, NH and I was in math class - Algebra II. The class just started. Miss Mantineo was on the board writing problems and an announcement came over the loudspeaker that we'd lost the space shuttle challenger and Christa McAuffle. I bawled like a baby. Half the class. Miss Mantineo was so shocked, she stumbled back to her chair and sat there stunned. Again, the memory is so poignant, I can still see it in my mind over 25 years later.
Endeavour was the fifth and final spaceworthy NASA space shuttle to be built, constructed as a replacement for Challenger. It first flew in May 1992.
I was working the 911 phones for LAPD when Endeavor began it's journey though the streets of LA. Endeavour's last flight into space was May 2011.
NASA chose to build Endeavour from spares rather than refitting Enterprise or accepting a Rockwell International proposal to build two shuttles for the price of one of the original shuttles, on cost grounds.The orbiter is named after the British HMS Endeavour, the ship which took Captain James Cook on his first voyage of discovery (1768–1771).[5] This is why the name is spelled in the British English manner, rather than the American English ("Endeavor").
The Space Shuttle Endeavour will spend it's retirement at the California Science Center in LA.
It's due to arrive later on today. I'd love to hear your thoughts, memories, impressions, opinions on the space shuttles. I hope you've enjoyed the journey as I have.
Smiles
Steph
Reference for this post taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Endeavour
FANTASTIC pictures. I also enjoyed reading your memories of the Space Shuttles. Thank you for sharing Steph.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mona. I'm very excited the Shuttle is coming to LA. Now I have to find time to visit with the boys.
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Steph
Great pictures! I didn't manage to come down to L.A. to see it in person (and given how long they were delayed, I am glad that I didn't) but I definitely plan to visit it at its new home at some point.
ReplyDeleteI didn't get a chance to see it in person either, but I hope to visit the Endeavour when the science museum opens up the exhibit.
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Steph
What great pictures, Stephanie, thanks for sharing. I visited the US this year for the first time and was thrilled to see the 'Enterprise' temporarily 'docked' at JKA as we taxied down the runway at JKA en route to Pennsylvania. That was such a thrill and something I'll never forget.
ReplyDeleteHow, how exciting! Were you able to get any pictures. I can imagine it was breathtaking.
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Steph
I too remember those days. I hope the journey continues and we don't abandoned our dreams of discovery. Great pics! I'm just jealous that the USAF Museum here didn't get it! LOL
ReplyDeleteLinda, lol! I totally understand. Interestingly, this area of southern California has a lot of ties to the space industries - from building rockets, etc. I was surprised to learn just how important so Cal was to the space program.
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Steph
Thank you for memorable memories with this blog post. I'm glad we're preserving The Endeavour, but am sad at the shut down of the space program and the 400 trees which went down to make this journey for us possible.
ReplyDeleteJude, I feel the same way, trust me. It's sad to lose all those trees. I hope some could be transplanted or saved. I suppose we'll never know.
DeleteSteph
Wonderful photos. I've been watching this on TV.
ReplyDeleteDid you know they cut down four hundred trees so Endeavor's wings could fit down the roads leading to the museum?
The museum will be planting eight hundred trees to replace the one cut down. However, a lot of people are still upset about the the trees even though in a few short years, you'll never know they were gone.
Janice~